Lonetree Gets 30 Yrs., Could Be Freed in 10

A military jury today sentenced Sgt. Clayton Lonetree, the first Marine ever accused of spying, to 30 years in prison for disclosing U.S. secrets to the Soviets.

The eight Marine officers sitting as jurors also fined the former Moscow Embassy guard $5,000, reduced him to the lowest pay scale and ordered that he forfeit all pay and allowances and be dishonorably discharged.

If Lonetree fails to have his espionage conviction thrown out on appeal, he will be eligible for parole in 10 years.

The 25-year-old Marine, a Navajo Indian, was found guilty last Friday on 13 counts of spying for the Soviet Union during his two years guarding the Moscow and Vienna embassies.

To Be Reviewed

Lt. Gen. Frank Petersen Jr., commanding general of Quantico, now reviews the penalty, a process that could take up to five months. Petersen could decrease the penalty but he cannot increase the jury’s sentence.

After Petersen’s ruling, an automatic appeal goes to the Navy-Marine Corps Court of Military Review in Washington. The next appeal would be the Court of Military Appeals and then the Supreme Court.

“I’m not gonna blame anybody,” said Lonetree, 25, answering questions from one of his attorneys today before sentencing. “It’s really somewhat difficult to explain how . . . I could . . . turn on my country.”

Lonetree’s explanation was the first he offered in the four-week court-martial on espionage charges.

“He disgraces the uniform he wears,” said lead prosecutor Maj. David Beck, asking the jury of eight Marine Corps officers to impose the maximum life sentence.

Lonetree said he enlisted to get away from an “alcoholic” father and out of a “patriotic” spirit. “I really cherish” the Marine Corps, he told the jury.